If it were you, could you get away with an 'oops!' and a cheque?

I've just watched again Hazel Blears' cheque-waving contrition clip, which beats all the other on-camera apologies so far. If her opponent's got any sense at the next election, he or she will pay to have that beamed into every home in Salford. Because I reckon one of the unexplored consequences of this business will not just be the reaction to the abuse, but the reaction to the apologies.

Do you know any other walk of life where actions which that might deserve the scrutiny of the authorities could be explained away with an "oops!" and a cheque? How many people out there, many of them on benefit, will react badly not just to the offence, but even more to the sight of their MP producing vast sums from out of thin air? However painful it may be to Mr Hope's family finances (and I'm sure it is), there are millions of people who, even if their bank manager was drunk, could not raise that kind of cash overnight, or even the Â£13,000-odd offered by Ms Blears. Yet another reason why Labour will get a disproportionate share of the caning. And there's more to come.